One complex aspect of this network recorder is the way channel numbers and names are matched from the M3U playlist to actual channels in mythtv, since those channels do not contain any channel frequency.

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One complex and not obvious aspect of the FreeBoxRecorder is the way channel numbers and names are matched from the M3U playlist to create actual channels in mythtv, since those IPTV channels do not contain any channel frequency or callsign.

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After quite a lot of tests, I finally found out that the Freebox parser matches on the "Channel Name", not the Channel number or Callsign: this means that you cannot rename a channel - otherwise it cannot be found anymore - , but you can reshuffle channel numbers or change their callsign, this is not taken into account by the card.

+

After quite a lot of tests, I finally found out that the FreeboxRecorder parser matches on the "Channel Name" field , not the Channel number or Callsign: this means that when you are in the "Channel Editor" in the mythv-setup utility, you cannot rename a channel - otherwise it cannot be found anymore - , but you can modify channel numbers or change their callsign, this is not taken into account by the FreeboxRecorder.

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This also means that in case you have a mythtv setup with both a DVB and a Freebox card, you should make sure that channel callsigns are identical for the channels that are the same on DVB and TNT, but you should not modify the Channel names. For example: the channel name for ARTE is "ARTE" with the French DVB system (aka "TNT"), but is "Arte" for the Freebox network card. You cannot change "Arte" for "ARTE" as the channel name, but you should use the same callsign in both capture cards so that EPG data is not duplicated in the program list.

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Beware, though: upon initial channel scan, the FreeboxRecorder card still creates a Channel number and a callsign (identical to the channel name). The channel number is the number that is listed in the "playlist.m3u" file that is downloaded by the FreeboxRecorder, with one particular issue: in case a channel is listed several times with the same number (like channel 12 which is listed twice, once for 5.1 and one for Stereo), the last occurence of the channel number only is stored.

+

+

This also means that in case you have a mythtv setup with both a DVB dongle and a FreeboxRecorder virtual capture card, you should make sure that channel callsigns are identical for the channels that are the same on DVB and TNT, but you should not modify the Channel names. For example: the channel name for ARTE is "ARTE" within the French DVB system (aka "TNT"), but is "Arte" for the FreeboxRecorder card. You cannot change "Arte" for "ARTE" as the channel name, but you should use the same callsign in both capture cards so that EPG data is not duplicated in the program list.

Revision as of 21:08, 20 July 2008

Contents

What is Freebox recorder ?

Freebox is the name of the "box" used by the french ISP free.fr. This box provides internet access, a telephone line (VoIP) and television.

Since december 2005, the TV channels are available via rtsp: protocol (MPEG2-TS), allowing free.fr's customers to receive the channels on their computer (using VLC). The Freebox recorder was added in MythTV-0.20. It allows MythTV to record/watch the rtsp: channels.

Complex case, without the Freebox modem

How Channels are mapped

One complex and not obvious aspect of the FreeBoxRecorder is the way channel numbers and names are matched from the M3U playlist to create actual channels in mythtv, since those IPTV channels do not contain any channel frequency or callsign.

After quite a lot of tests, I finally found out that the FreeboxRecorder parser matches on the "Channel Name" field , not the Channel number or Callsign: this means that when you are in the "Channel Editor" in the mythv-setup utility, you cannot rename a channel - otherwise it cannot be found anymore - , but you can modify channel numbers or change their callsign, this is not taken into account by the FreeboxRecorder.

Beware, though: upon initial channel scan, the FreeboxRecorder card still creates a Channel number and a callsign (identical to the channel name). The channel number is the number that is listed in the "playlist.m3u" file that is downloaded by the FreeboxRecorder, with one particular issue: in case a channel is listed several times with the same number (like channel 12 which is listed twice, once for 5.1 and one for Stereo), the last occurence of the channel number only is stored.

This also means that in case you have a mythtv setup with both a DVB dongle and a FreeboxRecorder virtual capture card, you should make sure that channel callsigns are identical for the channels that are the same on DVB and TNT, but you should not modify the Channel names. For example: the channel name for ARTE is "ARTE" within the French DVB system (aka "TNT"), but is "Arte" for the FreeboxRecorder card. You cannot change "Arte" for "ARTE" as the channel name, but you should use the same callsign in both capture cards so that EPG data is not duplicated in the program list.

Work in progress

1. The FreeboxRecorder has been extended to support more protocols. The current patch (http://svn.mythtv.org/trac/ticket/2152) adds udp:, rtp: and file: support.
2. H264 support is in progress, but is still not stable.